Study of the Relationships Between Refractory Hypertension, Overweight/Obesity and Sleep Apnea Syndrome

A number of factors predispose subjects to both hypertension and SAS, including overweight/obesity and hyperinsulinism. The pathogenesis of concomitant overweight/obesity and hypertension is multifactorial. There is an independent relationship between the degree of insulin resistance and the severity of SAS. A number of studies have suggested that hormones secreted by adipose tissue are involved in the pathogenesis of both hypertension and SAS, and overweight/obesity has been shown to be associated with elevated leptin levels coupled with reduced adiponectin levels.

Leptin is produced in adipose tissue and its levels rise with overweight/obesity due to peripheral resistance to its action. A number of studies have detected high leptinemia in both hypertensives and people suffering from SAS. Leptin may activate the sympathetic nervous system and promote SAS-related hypertension.

Adiponectin which is also produced in adipose tissue has beneficial activities, notably on atherogenesis. A relationship between hypertension and adiponectin has yet to be demonstrated.

Unlike leptin, adiponectin levels do not seem to be elevated in patients with SAS.

In terms of treatment, a number of studies have shown that CPAP has a positive effect on BP readings. Although this effect is modest, it is greater in subjects with SAS and rises with the severity of this condition. The effects of CPAP on plasmatic leptin and adiponectin levels are as yet unknown.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients of either gender, of between 18 and 70
• Suffering from refractory hypertension as defined by persistent clinical hypertension (> 140/90 mm Hg according to two different readings 24 hours apart) despite at least three classes of antihypertensive drugs (including a thiazide diuretic) at appropriate doses.
• Recruited in the Cardiology Departments of the University Hospitals in Grenoble, Toulouse, Marseille and Poitiers, and in the Mozart Clinic in Paris.
• Outpatients
• Patients who have signed the consent form
• Patients affiliated to or beneficiary of the social security system

Exclusion criteria

• Failure to fulfil the inclusion criteria
• Treated SAS, whatever the form of the treatment
• Disease which might affect BP regulation, including Parkinson's disease, kidney or heart transplantation, dysautonomia, severe heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation or regular extrasystole (> 10/minute)
• Night- or shift-work
• Pregnant and breast-feeding women
• Patients under legal guardianship
• Incarcerated patients or adults protected by the law
• Hospitalised patients
• Ongoing participation in another clinical research study